It's one of the main reasons why the Central Magnet junior shortstop was the District 8-AA co-MVP in 2014 and outright MVP this season.

But make no mistake, Sargent's play at the plate is nothing to ignore. He is second on the team in batting average (.426), third in runs scored (43), third in home runs (four) and second in RBIs (45).

"He's always been so good defensively," Central Magnet first-year coach Jason Patterson said. "The thing is he just keeps getting better offensively. He just keeps getting better and better at the plate.

"This year he's added some speed to go along with it."

Sargent has 35 stolen bases — third most on the team — on 36 attempts.

Sargent said the Tigers brought in a speed coach in the offseason, which has helped him.

"I think that helped a lot of us," Sargent said. "We've got two of us with over 40 stolen bases."

There isn't much Sargent isn't doing these days on offense to help the Tigers, who enter their third Class AA state baseball tournament in as many years.

The Tigers (33-5) play Knoxville Catholic (26-14) at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Blackman High in the opening round of the tournament. Catholic was state runner-up to Christian Academy of Knoxville last season.

Sargent acknowledged that this team has overachieved in many people's attention after graduating its top three starting pitchers from 2014. But a stable of sophomores, including ace James Touchton, have carried the load on the mound.